High-pressure hydrogenation of graphene: towards graphane.

The conversion of graphene to graphane is of high importance from a technological and scientific point of view. We present here a scalable method for the hydrogenation of graphene based on thermal exfoliation of graphite oxide in a hydrogen atmosphere under high pressure (60-150 bar) and temperature (200-500 °C). This method does not require a plasma source and is able to produce gram quantities of the material. The properties of the resultant hydrogenated graphene were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and combustible elemental analysis techniques. Sheet and specific resistance of the graphene and hydrogenated graphene were measured. This scalable synthesis method has great potential to serve as a pathway towards the mass production of graphane.